I was on the road again this weekend after a great Corrective Exercise Specialist Workshop in New York City last weekend I taught a Certified Personal Trainer Workshop in Bloomington, MN. I had not been to Minnesota for about two years and was looking forward to the trip. I has stayed in Minneapolis a couple of times, but this was my first visit to the Bloomington area right next to the airport and the “Mall”.

The Mall of America, Bloomington, MN

The Mall of America was right across he parking lot from the Marriott that I stayed in, a quick walk or even quicker shuttle ride. I had heard stories about the shear immensity of the Mall and wanted to see it for myself.

SHARK!!!

I was greeted by an 8 foot shark cage and an exhibit put on by the Aquarium in the mall…yes, it has it’s own aquarium.

Okay...so this is bigger than the Natick Mall...and it has it's own amusement park and Aquarium...WOW!

Next, I walked into the center of the mall and saw them amusement park….this picture shows maybe a third of it. I wanted to take a run on the roller coaster, but found myself with a full stomach every time that I had the chance and thought better of it. It has been years since I have been on a roller caster, it would have been fun. They have gotten much more complicated and crazier than the old wooden up and down the hill and around the corner originals.

The PGA people thought I was a golfer or a caddy and were trying to check me in when I was checking out their set up...must have been the NASM polo shirt!

The Marriott that I stayed at and taught the workshop at played host to media, caddies, a few pros and colf course managers from across the country. I was almost handed a registration packet and VIP access to a PGA reception at the hotel:) Little do they know I have not played a round of golf in 7 years and I was ugly then. Can’t imagine what I would look like on the course now. I did miss the chance to find that out as my hockey team had the first annual Pittbull Golf and family Outing while I was away. Maybe next year!

I enjoyed teaching the workshop and was able to share some exciting news about NASM PRO with the attendees. I always seem to enjoy the groups that mae up the workshops but I felt a particular sense of accomplishment after this weekend. Either their receptiveness or my performance, probably both honestly, made the weekend a special one. I hope that they feel the same way. I gave them everything that I had emotionally and energetically:) There were retired and active duty military (thanks for serving by the way!), stay at home moms, former athletes, new trainers, seasoned trainers, people looking to switch careers, college students and more among the group. I believe that there were 3-5 people there that had trainers and wanted to share their results by becoming trainers themselves! Very cool!

The industry will be better off if we keep adding trainers like these to the mix.

I did have the chance to perform and integrated assessment on one of the students after class Friday. Her knees moving in and a hip drop were her two most prominent movement compensations. Upon further examination, she had a rotation in the left side of her pelvis and her sacro-illiac joint was restricted. I recommended that she see a physical therapist, chiropractor, or some form of manual therapist that could properly assess and treat her. Se has some corrective exercise ahead of her to balance off her l-p-h-c (core) even thought she is not in pain…yet:) Hopefully we caught this soon enough!